• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, September 5, 2006

Aegis Group, the media agency and research holding company that is the perennial subject of takeover rumors, Tuesday morning reported strong first half 2006 results, including record new business contributing to a 19.1 percent gain in revenues and a 15.2 percent rise in pre-tax profits. The company also announced that it has quietly begun introducing its Vizeum brand in the U.S. marketplace.

Robert Lerwill, CEO of Aegis Group, attributed the results to both Aegis Media and Synovate, the company's research division, noting, "Our worldwide appointment by Adidas-Reebok shows the value of our investment in digital and communications planning, putting us in a perfect place to get to important consumer groups such as the influential but hard-to-reach 17 year-old."

Aegis Media, the unit that oversees the Carat, Vizeum, Isobar and Posterscope media brands, reported organic revenue growth of 7.0 percent for the first half. The Americas, primarily North America, was its greatest contributor, with revenues soaring 23.2 percent vs. a worldwide gain of 15.0 percent.

Aegis, meanwhile, has begun rolling out Vizeum as its second media network in the U.S., including accounts such as Schick and Eurostar. The U.S. brings Vizeum's market coverage to 36 countries.